Lamp shade



Oct. 30, 1923.

E. \H. STRAUSS LAMP SHADE Filed April 12, 1920 Patented Oct. 30, 1923.

UNITED STATES ERNEST H. STRAUSS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

' LAMP SHADE.

Application filed April 12,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST H. STRAUSS, a I citizen of the United States of America, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Lamp Shades, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to lamps generally, but particularly to lamps at or in'the direction of which it is sometimes necessary to look, and has for its objects the production of a shade which will afford a maximum of light in a given direction with a minimum of glare to the eyes upon looking at or in the direction of the lamp; which will be suitable for mounting on ceilings, will be adequately ventilated, and whose parts can be easily and cheaply made and assembled, so that, in case of breakage, it will be possible to replace a broken part without replacing the entire shade.

I attain these objects by a device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation, Fig. 2, an elevation of a variant suitable for suspension by a hanger, Fig. 3, a plan view from above, Fig. 4, a plan view from beneath, and Fig. 5, a cross-section of Fig. l. The same reference characters refer to the same, similar or corresponding parts throughout the various views.

The device consists of a diffuser, or of a reflector and diffuser, the former being a plane, conical or curved surface or canopy attached to the ceiling or suspended by a hanger, and having its lower surface treated so as to reflect the rays impinging thereon from the source of the light in the direction of the diffuser; and the latter consisting preferably of a series of concentric ring-like or tubular segments or members of white or colored mat or frosted glass, or partly clear and partly frosted, according to their respective positions with reference to each other and said source, and of varying lengths, but all relatively short, and so disposed and spaced from each other and said source as to intercept and diffuse all rays falling thereon from said source, and being intersected and held in place by relatively slender separable supports, projections or links of metal or other suitable material, resulting, when viewed in plan, in a sash-like combination or whole, with relatively large interstices or openings between the intersec- 1920. Serial N0. 873,449.

It will be observed from the dashed'lines w my, Fig. 5, and from the fact that the segments o members A, B and C are frosted or mat, that all rays emanating downward or laterally from the source of the light will be intercepted by said members and broken up o diffused, while the rays emanating upward therefrom will be reflected, and most of them will pass unimpeded downward through the openings or interstices, F, thus affording a maximum of light downward,

while at the same time preventing all glare to the eyes upon looking at or in the direction of the lamp, and also affording the ventilation necessary for the maximum life of the lamp or bulb.

For use against ceilings, or in connection with a shade that is continuous with the segment A, the segments are made detachable, and this is accomplished by making the outer ends of the links D removable from their seats E, on the inner surfaces of the segments A and C.

t will also be observed that, if any of said members should be broken, the shade can be readily put back into commission by merely replacing such member, it being unnecessary to fn'ovide an entirely new shade.

t is of course understood that variations may be resorted to, such as fixing the links, or making the segments undetachable, or by omitting the bottom B of the segment B, and leaving same open at both ends as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, in which event, unless 'undiffused rays are desired directly downward, it would be necessary to use a bulb whose lower end is frosted as shown in Fig. 5. The form may also be varied from circular to square. or any other suitable shape.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a lamp-shade, a sectional difiuser comprising a central and a series of successively larger band-like members of translucent material arranged concentrically to intercept and difl'use all direct rays impinging thereon from the source of the light, and spaced from one another to afford relatively unimpeded passages for reflected rays, and separable means on the opposite faces of said members to span the spaces and hold said members in their proper relative positions, the walls of said members being vertical so that said spaces may be as wide as possible, and said means being so constructed that the diffuser may be demounted by simply lifting said members out of position one after another, beginning with the innermost, and assembled by reversing the process, substantially as described and shown.

2. In a lamp-shade, a sectional diffuser adapted to be mounted, in combination with and beneath a reflector, and beneath and around a source of light, and comprising a central and a series of successively larger members of translucent material arranged concentrically, to intercept and diffuse all rays impinging thereon directly from said source, and spaced from one another to afford relatively unimpeded passages for reflected rays, the walls of said members being vertical so that said passages may be as wide as possible, and relatively slender projections on each of said members except the outermost, and corresponding seats on each of said members except the innermost to receive the free ends of said projections and, in co-operation therewith, hold said members in their proper relative positions, said spaces being otherwise left open for such passage and for ventilation, and said seats being of such open construction as that the device can be readily demounted, as for cleaning, by simply lifting said projection-bearing mem, bers out of position one after another, beginning with the innermost, and assembled by reversing the process, substantially as described and shown.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Chicago, Illinois, on the 9th day of April, 1920.

ERNEST H. STRAUSS. 

